Couple days ago I tried for first time to boot puppy from a flash drive for testing reasons. I tried to install puppy431 and quirky010 simultaneously by using the "puppy universal installer", but unfortunately couldn't use both of them. So I searched a litle bit around and found the solution that is extremely easy after all. Just follow my steps:

1. Installation of the first puppy with the bootloader
a. Load one of the puppies that you want to install in the usb flash drive.
b. Go Menu->Setup->Puppy universal installer
c.At the screen which will appear choose the first option "USB Flash drive"

The next steps (till 2) are easy to follow by reading the messages, but I'm just making them very analytic (maybe too much):
d. Will pop a screen asking you which drive to install to, choose the one you want
e. Then Will follow a window asking you at which partition you want to install, select it by clicking on it.
f. After that will appear an information window, just to be sure that you didn't do any mistake
g. A window will come out asking you where are the files of the puppy you want to install, with 2 options "cd" and "directory". If you have load the puppy from a live cd just click the "CD" option, else the "Directory" option. Click on the iso and it will be automatically mounted under "/mnt/", navigate to it and select the "vmlinuz" file and click ok.
h. In the following window I've chosen the default option and worked. In case it doesn't work with you you'll have to try the other options.
i. If the partition doesn't have the flag "boot" will ask you to make it by using gparted. You have to do it. So click "GParted", right click on the partition you want to install to, select "Manage Flags" and select the "boot" flag and close gparted.
j. Next window just select the "default"
k. Will pop up a window, in the first option if you are sure just click "enter". Next if you want to wipe the contents of that partition click a character and then enter, else if you want to keep them just press "enter". At the next option I suggest to type a character and then press "enter". and when it finishes again "enter" to close.

That's it you have finished with the installation of the first puppy at the usb flash drive

2. Now you have a flash drive or a partition with the following files:
initrd.gz
ldlinux.sys
pup/quirky/"whatever you have chosen to install".sys
syslinux.cfg
USBFLASH
vmlinuz

a. Make a folder with whatever name you want, but with only western (english) characters let's say puppy, and move in the folder the next files:
initrd.gz
pup/quirky/"whatever you have chosen to install".sys
USBFLASH
vmlinuz

b. Right click at the syslinux.cfg and open it as text.
You'll see something like the next:

c. Make a new text file called "menu.txt", in the same place with the syslix.cfg, not in a subfolder
click on it and paste the following:

Code:

1.- "the name you want to call it, e.x: Puppy Linux 431"

Save it and you are ready to add more

3.Adding more puppies/live linuxes
a. You open the iso, make a new folder and put inside the next files:
initrd.gz
pup/quirky/"whatever you have chosen to install".sys
vmlinuz
Also copy inside the folder the "USBFLASH" file.

b. Open the file "syslinux.cfg" as a text and add the following:
LABEL (A number for any linux you install), for example:
KERNEL /the name of the folder you made previously/vmlinuz, for example:
APPEND initrd=/the name of the folder you made previously/initrd.gz pmedia=usbflash pfix=copy nosmp psubdir=the name of the folder you made previously

The nosmp option can be omitted if you are using an smp processor
Save the file with the changes

c. Open the "menu.txt" and add the following:
The number you chose at the previous step, ".- " (a fullstop, a dash and a space) and the name you want to be seen in the monitor when choosing which to boot. For example:
"2.- Quirky Linux 010"

This way you'll have as many puppies, woofs, quirkies you want in a single usb thumb drive, each on a separate folder.

so when booting from the flash drive I get the options:
1.- Puppy Linux 431
2.- Quirky Linux 010
boot:_

and I just type the number I want to boot from and press "enter".

I hope it's clear enough to follow the steps. But if you have any questions or suggestions in order to make it clearer please tell me.[/quote]Last edited by Michalis on Wed 31 Mar 2010, 09:55; edited 1 time in total

You need to add "psubdir=subdir you make" to the end of the APPEND line. See my signature post._________________T_Hobbit
Rebuilding old DOS Machine for Wing Commander Privateer and Puppy Old spare parts to give away - anyone interested

T_Hobbit, I think that in syslinux "psubdir=subdir you make" isn't necessary. I haven't found anywhere anyone using syslinux referring to it, maybe you need it because you are using unetbootin. Anyway just to be sure I added it to the the How to.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum